Heat Today: Late-game miscues by Jimmy Butler, Miami result in blown lead vs. Suns

The Miami Heat enjoyed a strong third-quarter performance against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, but the games closing moments proved to be the difference as they fell to 3-4 on the season.

Heat star Jimmy Butler struggled to get a shot attempt off as the buzzer expired, and Miami left Phoenix with a 115-112 loss.

This marks the Heats third road loss in five such meetings against the Suns.

Three of their four losses this season have come after leading at halftime.

Advertisement I should have just pulled back and shot it, Butler said.

We kind of knew what was going to go on and ...

my turnover.

I got to shoot that one.

I think we did all that we can do.

We played great defense, but great offense is going to beat that every time.

They got some hellified players over there definitely some hellified scorers.

We came up short.

Were in these games.

Weve just to figure out how to close these games.

Weve got to figure out a way to hold our leads.

But were doing a lot of good things, and we just have these lapses.

They got against us at the wrong time, and it caused us a loss.

Wednesdays loss means Miami sits under .500 through seven games for the third straight season.

During the 2022-23 season, of course, the Heat turned that slow start into a surprise run to the NBA Finals.

Last season, though, Miami clinched the No.

8 seed again but didnt advance out of the first round.

Through seven games this season, the Heat are right in the middle of the NBA in net rating (plus-0.1) and must craft their strong starts into full, cohesive games to remain viable in the Easts playoff picture.

While Tyler Herro led the team in scoring again, no other Heat player crossed the 20-point threshold as Miamis offense didnt have enough to finish the job in Phoenix.

Both teams scored 29 points in the third quarter as the Heat carried an 87-84 lead into the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, though, that came after Miami held a 15-point advantage after halftime and squandered another lead.

Game preview: Miami Heat (3-4) at Denver Nuggets (5-3), Friday, 9 p.m.

ET We will preview this game in full on Friday.

( Top photo: Kate Frese / Getty Images ).

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